The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-16
Preachers Not Excepted.

When Congress enacted the law forbid
ding the importation of laborers under con
tract it doubtless had no intention to put
anything in the way of importing ministers
of the gospel under contract. 1t never
thought probably that there was such a
want of ministers in this country that con
gregations would send abroad for them. In
fact, Judging from the number of ministers
annually graduated by the theological
Summaries and the numbers sent to heather
countries as missionaries, it had every
reason to think that the supply was much
greater than the demand. 1t did not take
into consideration the growing tendency in
New York TO follow English fashions and
ape English manners, and, therefore, never
thought it probable that any religious con
gregation could become so English as TO
desire an English minister.
This is big country, however and con-
tains many people who have strange notions
and tastes. The man, therefore, who aims
to be a successful statesman must study the
people in every part of the country. If the
members of the Ways and Means Commit
tee had been familiar with the craze in New
York city for everything English, there is
no doubt that the possibility of the de-
sire for an English clergyman In that city
would have suggested itself to them, and
they would have excepted preachers from
the operation of the contract labor act, as
they did actors, artists, singers, etc.
The Church of tine Holy Trinity, not
being able to find a minister in this country
that exactly met its approval, imported
under contract, the Rev. f. Walpole War
rem, a gentleman of acknowledged ability
handsome presence and charming manners.
1t is doubtful if anybody can find fault with
him. There may be some who think that
he parts his name in the wrong place, but
the church which imported him will not
find that a reason for Directing TO him.
The Rev Mr. Warren had scarcely time
TO recover from the effects of his long voy-
age before it became noised abroad that the
Church of the Holy Trinity had made itself
liable to fine Of 1000 for importing him.
The church deacons scanned the law, which
was passed last winter, to prevent the i'm
portation of inferior foreign laborers under
contract to work for a low rate of wages,
anu COuCIuueu JudJ luOuku tucN HliBuI NAVE
violated the letter of it, they had not violat-
ed its spirit Mr.. John S. Kennedy, a good
Presbyterian who believes laws are made
to be enforced and obeyed, determined to
have the question whether the Church of
the Holy Trinity had not made itself liable
for the fine investigated. He called the at
tention of United States District Attorney
Walker to the case, and was rather graft
fed to find that that officer was ready to
make an effort to collect the 81 900 fine.
Mr.. Kennedy hasn't any feeling in the
matter other than desire TO see the law en-
forced. He has informed the trustees of
Holy Trinity that if the case is decided
against the church he will pay the fine
Doubtless he expects to have more than 81 900
worth of amusement out of it. The idea
of church, which rather prides itself upon
its wealth and exclusiveness, being fined
under the law to protect American work
men against the low wages of contract la
Dor, for importing a Clergyman, doubtless
affords him unbounded satisfaction.
The preachers ought to offer him a vote
of thanks for making apparent that they
are protected just as the great manufactur-
ing monopolies are, though, doubtless, the
majority of them think that no amount of
foreign competition could reduce their sal
aries below what they are at present.